Punches started flying long before the opening bell for Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson. Multiple fights broke out during Friday’s weigh-ins at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. T
urning the final pre-fight event ahead of Saturday night’s WBO world super lightweight title fight into a scene of chaos.
The initial brawl erupted shortly after Lopez and Stevenson stepped on the scales, with several men exchanging punches near the stage following a heated verbal exchange. Video footage captured the melee as security struggled to quickly restore order.
Bill Haney Seen Trying to De-Escalate
Several videos circulating on social media show Bill Haney, father of current WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, appearing to be in the middle of the fray not throwing punches, but attempting to separate individuals and calm the situation.
The disturbances didn’t end there.
A second brawl reportedly broke out later near the arena’s exit doors, where more punches were thrown before bystanders and security intervened to break things up.
Tensions Boiling All Fight Week
Friday’s incidents were the latest flashpoint in an already tense fight week. At Thursday’s press conference, Stevenson attempted to confront Lopez face-to-face on stage, escalating an already hostile exchange between the two fighters. During the final face-off, unified welterweight champion Terence Crawford was also involved in a verbal altercation with Lopez’s father, further inflaming the atmosphere.
With emotions running hot on both sides, the weigh-in chaos underscored just how volatile the buildup has become heading into one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
Despite the multiple altercations, the fight remains scheduled to proceed as planned Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
